County Supervisors Approve Construction Contracts
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors accepted and awarded contractor bids for four construction projects involving three culvert installations and one bridge repair project. The construction projects are to
begin this summer. Richards Construction of Sac City was awarded the contract for a pre-cast concrete culvert box replacement located on Iris Avenue near 120th Street. The low bid submitted was at $156,889. The county’s estimate
for the cost of the project was at $166,060. L.A. Carlsen of Merrill, Iowa, got the contract for a second culvert project also located on Iris Avenue at 320th street. The winning bid was at $130,750 with the county’s estimate at $186,188. The third culvert project is located at on county road K-42 at 250th
street. Richards Construction of Sac City was able to get that project with the low bid of $139,925 and the estimate cost submitted by Plymouth County engineer, Tom Rohe was at $155,013. Dixon Construction of Correctionville,
Iowa will be constructing a bridge for Plymouth County after submitting the low bid of $477,343.24. The bridge is located near Tamarack Avenue near 230th Street, and within about a mile from the Plymouth-Cherokee county border. The county’s estimate for the bridge replacement project was listed at $542,296.
Supervisors Approve Deputies Increase Salaries
(Le Mars) — The county supervisors also approved an amended budget resolution. The county actually made more in revenue than what was originally expected.
Plymouth County made an extra $437,300 against expenditures amounting to $205,600. County auditor Stacey Feldman informed the county governing board that a large sum of the total revenue was through the Local Options Sales Tax.
Feldman says $80,000 was made due to higher prices items, which in turn adds more to the Local Options Sales Tax. Feldman says the amount was like having an extra month of revenue. The county board of supervisors also approved the salary increases for the Deputy positions for all county offices, including:
Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, and Sheriff.
City Conducting Search For New Police Chief
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Police Chief Stuart Dekkenga has announced he will retire from his position at the end of June, which means the city will need to find another suitable candidate for the Police Chief position. Recently, KLEM news spoke with Le Mars Mayor, Dick Kirchoff. Kirchoff says the process to find a
new police chief has already started.
The Le Mars mayor says he doesn’t know whether any of the existing Le Mars Police officers, or other area law enforcement officials may have an interest in the position, but he says the next police chief will be an individual that meets all the required criteria, and who will make a good fit for the Le Mars
community.
Kirchoff tells of the timetable for the search for a new police chief.
Kirchoff says it is hoped the new police chief would be able to begin the duties sometime between August 7th and August 15th. Kirchoff says several people from the city council to the public safety committee, to other law enforcement officials, and even members of the community will assist with the
interviews.
Kirchoff wants to have the members of the city council involved with the selection process, and to be a part of each group conducting the police chief interviews.
Le Mars city officials have hired Jeff Cayler of Carroll, Iowa, as a consultant to assist with the search for a new police chief. Kirchoff says he is impressed with the Cayler and his credentials.
City Council Tables Action On Library’s Construction Project
(Le Mars) — During Tuesday’s city council meeting, the council decided to table the items on the agenda pertaining to the library’s renovation project and the construction package #2 and construction package #3. The reason is contractors are not certain as to how much asbestos will need to be removed for
the renovation projects, and therefore need the additional time to assess a cost estimate. It was announced at today’s council meeting that the city will hold an open house at the newly renovated shelter house located at the Municipal Park. The date and time for the open house is Thursday, May 11th
beginning at 12:00 noon and continuing through 1:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
City Offers Amnesty Clean-up Week
(Le Mars) — The city of Le Mars wants to remind Le Mars residents that this week, May 1st through May 6 is the spring amnesty clean-up week. Each residential household must make their own arrangements for hauling waster to the Plymouth County Landfill during this Amnesty period. Items included are
furniture: couches, chairs, mattresses, carpet, garden hose, TV’s, humidifiers, computers and monitors; C and D items include wooden items such as fence post, scrap lumber, windows, doors, sinks, toilets, storms and screens. Also includes bikes, mowers, metal post, wire, swings, gutter, bed springs, bed frames. Items not included tires, hazardous waste, white goods such as air
conditioners, microwaves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, stoves, furnaces, dishwashers, hot water heaters and fluorescent lights.
Branstad Confirmation Hearing Started Tuesday
(Washington) — Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst introduced Governor Terry Branstad to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday as Branstad faced the Senate committee for his confirmation hearings to become the next U-S
Ambassador to China.
Branstad informed the Senate panel of his long relationship with the current Chinese president dating back to 1985 when he
participated on a trade mission to China. Branstad was asked by some of the Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee as to what he would do to with the Chinese officials regarding Human Rights. Branstad informed the U-S Senate panel that he would press Chinese officials to adopt American values relating to human rights.
Third Person Charged With Arson Of “Bridge Of Madison County” Fire
WINTERSET, Iowa (AP) – A third person has been arrested in the burning of a covered Iowa bridge featured in the novel “The Bridges of Madison County.”
Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes said Tuesday that 19-year-old Alivia Bergmann, of Des Moines, was taken into custody in South Carolina on an Iowa arson charge and will be returned. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney for her.
One of the two other defendants, 18-year-old Joel Davis, pleaded not guilty Monday. The initial arson charge against the remaining defendant has been dropped. But prosecutors say they expect to charge the 17-year-old with a lesser count. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.
The bridge destroyed April 15 near Winterset also was featured in the 1995 movie adaptation.
Photo courtesy of Des Moines Register
Nebraska To Drop Charges Against Escaped Inmate If He Agrees To Extradition
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An inmate accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy and injuring another during his western Iowa jail escape faces a hearing in Nebraska, where he was captured.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says Wesley Correa-Carmenaty will appear in an Omaha court Wednesday to face charges of kidnapping, fleeing to avoid arrest, and two weapons counts.
Kleine said Tuesday that he will drop those charges if Correa-Carmenaty agrees to be extradited to Iowa to face more serious charges, including murder in the shooting death of Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Burbridge.
Iowa authorities say Correa-Carmenaty shot Burbridge and Deputy Pat Morgan on Monday, then stole a van to break out of Pottawattamie County Jail. Police say he stole another vehicle and kidnapped the driver before driving to Omaha, where he was apprehended.
